Vet Preferences Get Another Look From Senate Gop

SPRINGFIELD — Concerns that the state might not get a chance to hire the best applicants for vacant jobs have prompted Senate Republicans to re-evaluate the state's veterans preference law.

"I'm a veteran, and I think we ought to find a way that they get a little extra" advantage, Senate President James "Pate" Philip (R-Wood Dale) said Wednesday. "But I don't think there ought to be any guarantee for any group."

In Illinois, the state law gives a veteran an absolute preference in hiring over another qualified non-veteran applicant if they both receive top grades on state tests.

"They should get a little bit of an advantage, but it shouldn't be guaranteed for them," Philip said.

If Philip could get a change through in the veto session, he could spare Gov.-elect George Ryan, a fellow Republican, from having to take up the issue when he enters office in January.

In his race for governor, Ryan said he was exploring how to change the law so that veterans would retain an advantage in hiring without limiting the rights of others, such as women, African-Americans, the disabled and other classes of people. But Philip said he had not been in contact with Ryan on the issue.

Philip suggested the law needs fine-tuning, saying one idea under review is awarding veterans a few extra points on their test scores.

But the measure would have to move quickly to win approval in the abbreviated veto session. After this week, lawmakers will return for only one week in December.

Questions also will be raised by Democrats, who want to make sure any change would not be made simply to give a new Republican administration another edge in hiring.

House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) remained noncommittal, saying he was not prepared to comment on the issue and noting Philip was the one talking most about the proposal.

Retiring Gov. Jim Edgar had unsuccessfully challenged the absolute-preference policy in court. Asked to comment Wednesday, an Edgar spokesman said the governor has not seen any proposed change.

In Senate action, Philip pushed through an override of an Edgar veto of legislation that would increase the amount in prize money that can be awarded each day for pull-tab games held by fraternal groups, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks and the Moose.

The change would increase the award to $5,000 from $2,250 statewide. It is already at that level in St. Clair, Madison and Monroe Counties.

In other action, several key representatives and supporters of Chicago's local school councils lobbied lawmakers to free up funds already sent to Chicago. A key goal is to give local school councils, rather than the central bureaucracy, control of more funding, so the money can be directed into projects that the councils deem priorities.